300 Pot Plants Seized In Lehigh

State police at Fogelsville yesterday completed confiscation of nearly 300 marijuana plants found growing in western Lehigh County.

Cpl. Theodore Kohuth said the seizures were the result of observations made by the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit, in conjunction with an investigation bystate police at Fogelsville.

Police seized 160 plants yesterday morning. There are no suspects and no arrests planned from yesterday's action.

On Saturday, Kohuth said, 36 plants were seized at one time, and 103 plants at another. There are two suspects in the larger Saturday confiscation, he said. Their arrests are pending.

He estimated the total street value of all the plants at $75,000 to $100,000. Most plants were taken from Upper Macungie Township areas, he said, and a small number from Lower Macungie Township.

They were spotted Saturday by the helicopter, which is based at the Reading Airport.

Several patrol cars and about eight troopers were guided to the marijuana by the helicopter.

Kohuth said most of the marijuana was found growing in or at the edge of cornfields at eight locations. "The color of the marijuana is what enables us to find it, he said. "It has a unique green color from the air."

The plants will be processed and destroyed by state police.

Kohuth said state police at Fogelsville and the aviation unit will continue their investigations.

The amount of marijuana seized is a marked increase from previous years, Kohuth said, attributing the increase to more effective enforcement and the use of the police helicopter.